ISLAMABAD: After the Supreme Court recommended for local laws to be strengthened against tobacco use, the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has decided to introduce legislation so that the use of tobacco will be banned at all public events.

This will require the organisers to obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) from the district government beforehand.

The new legislation will ban smoking during public and political rallies, protests, sit-ins, religious gatherings, fashion shows, music concerts and a section for the use of tobacco will also be added on traffic tickets.

Last month, a two-member bench of the SC, headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, said district governments and administrations should strengthen legislation against tobacco use.

A CADD official said though several national and international organisations and UN agencies had been recommended steps for discouraging the use of tobacco, directions from the SC had expedited the government efforts.

“We are preparing a draft in which the rules of the Tobacco Vendors Act (TVA) 1958 will be incorporated along with suggestions from UN agencies,” he said.

Before being issued NOC for holding public event, organisers will have to submit affidavit saying no one will smoke at the event

The official added that the draft would be incorporated in the Local Government Act and would be presented in parliament to be approved. He said the law would only be applicable in the federal capital.

Talking to Dawn, CADD Deputy Secretary Establishment Dr Minhajus Siraj, who is also project director of the Tobacco Smoke Free Capital, said arrangements were being made for making legislation meant to discourage the use of tobacco.

“A task force working under the chief commissioner’s office will be established in order to implement all existing and proposed laws in the federal capital. People are required to get an NOC from the district administration for various events. It has been proposed that the NOC be made conditional on the provision of an affidavit saying smoking will be banned during the event,” he explained.

When asked, Dr Minhaj said 1,200 outlets were presently selling tobacco in the urban areas of Islamabad.

“Last year, we decided to make them get licences and ensure the implementation of TVA. Another 400 kiosks in the urban areas of the capital were not asked to get licensed because the Capital Development Authority (CDA) said if licences were issued to illegal kiosks, they would get a legal paper with which to justify themselves in the court,” he said.

Of these 1,200 outlets, 900 have submitted affidavits and the remaining will be registered in the current month, he added.

According to the conditions for obtaining the licence, a vendor has to make sure his shop is smoke free, that there are no displays or advertisements of tobacco products in his shop and that no cigarettes will be sold if the packaging does not feature a pictorial warning.

Vendors also have to submit an affidavit saying they will not sell individual cigarettes to those under the age of 18. Licensed shops also cannot be located 50 metres from an educational institute. Vendors will also have to display a sign inside their shops which says ‘Smoking is an offence’.

“The use of tobacco products is a hazard to health and the environment. This intervention will help save our children from falling into the trap of tobacco companies at a young age and getting addicted to nicotine and other addictives in these products,” Dr Minhaj said.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2016